Persons Employed by a Foreign Government or International Organization - Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

Services for Foreign Government

Compensation for services performed as an employee of a foreign government, without regard to citizenship, residence, or where services are performed, is not considered to be wages for Social Security and Medicare tax purposes. This includes services performed by ambassadors, other diplomatic and consular officers and employees, and nondiplomatic representatives.

Compensation for services performed as an employee of a wholly owned instrumentality of a foreign government, without regard to citizenship, residence, or where services are performed is not considered to be wages for Social Security and Medicare tax purposes if:

The instrumentality is wholly owned by the foreign government;

The services are of a character similar to those performed in foreign countries by employees of the United States Government or of an instrumentality thereof; and

The Secretary of States certifies to the Secretary of the Treasury that the foreign government, with respect to whose instrumentality exemption is claimed, grants an equivalent exemption with respect to services performed in the foreign country by employees of the United States Government and of instrumentalities thereof.

Services for International Organization

Compensation for services performed within or outside the United States by an employee or officer (regardless of citizenship or residence) of an international organization is not considered to be wages for Social Security and Medicare tax purposes. For U.S. citizens the income paid for services rendered to an international organization is reportable as self-employment income on their U.S. federal income tax returns, and is subject to self-employment tax to the extent such services are performed within the United States.

Compensation for services performed in the employment of an international organization by an individual pursuant to a transfer of such individual to such international organization pursuant to section 3582 of title 5, United States Code, dealing with Government Organization and Employees, shall constitute wages for Social Security / Medicare Tax purposes if:

Immediately before such transfer, such individual performed service with a Federal agency whose wages were subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, and

Such individual would be entitled, upon separation from such international organization and proper application, to reemployment with such Federal agency under section 3582.

The term "international organization" means a public international organization entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and immunities as an international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288-288f).

Note: This page contains one or more references to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Treasury Regulations, court cases, or other official tax guidance. References to these legal authorities are included for the convenience of those who would like to read the technical reference material. To access the applicable IRC sections, Treasury Regulations, or other official tax guidance, visit theTax Code, Regulations, and Official Guidancepage. To access any Tax Court case opinions issued after September 24, 1995, visit theOpinions Searchpage of the United States Tax Court.